Chapter 1808. If It Must Be Carried (8)

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It was so suffocating, it was burdensome.

If it hadn't been for Baek Cheon, this life would have ended already. If only it had, then… perhaps there would have been rest.

Looking up at the sky without hiding one's face felt terrifying. Yet Jin Songwon tore off his own mask.

Because he was no longer afraid? Or because even carrying this heart forward had become unbearable?

Desperation...

As he mulled over Baek Cheon's words, Jin Songwon let out a faint scoff.

Step. Step.

Then, footsteps echoed. The sound came from behind Baek Cheon.

Startled by an eerie feeling, Baek Cheon turned hastily.

"...You, get out of the way."

Cheong Myeong, who had been pushed away from Jin Songwon's side, was now approaching, exuding a chilling intent. He showed no signs of stopping, nor did he seem inclined to grant Jin Songwon any more time.

Baek Cheon, suffocating under the tension, raised his voice.

"Stop it already! Didn't you hear me?"

"And if I stop?"

"What?"

Cheong Myeong asked indifferently.

"If I stop, what changes?"

"…"

"Do you think he can return to a peaceful life now?"

Baek Cheon bit his lip tightly.

He knew. It was impossible. These people had already sinned. Even if Baek Cheon and Mount Hua forgave them, the world would not.

"You can't undo what's been done. The moment you commit the act, it's already over."

As Baek Cheon prepared to retort, biting his trembling lips—

"That's right. The only thing left is to carry it." [Tl note: the title of this arc, to carry/bear/shoulder]

Jin Songwon's voice, filled with hollow emptiness, rang out.

"…Sect Leader."

When Baek Cheon turned, Jin Songwon was no longer looking at the sky but at him.

"But if one lacks the strength to carry it any longer, there's only one option. To fall with the burden."

Jin Songwon's sword pointed forward—not at Baek Cheon, but at Cheong Myeong, who was approaching. No… It was unclear now who the sword was aimed at.

Perhaps Jin Songwon himself didn't know.

"Deputy Sect Leader. You're a good person."

He smiled faintly as he spoke.

"There's still something you can do. Something other than clinging to crumbled remains and weeping over them. So step aside. If you have time to persuade me, use it to save your comrades instead. Leave no room for regret."

There was a small warmth at the end of his cold voice.

But before anyone could sense it fully, Jin Songwon's sword sliced through the air.

Paaaat!

Kaaanng!

Jin Songwon's sword collided with Cheong Myeong's once again.

The killing intent was thick, as if the fleeting emptiness just moments ago had been a lie.

Yet, something was different. Though the killing intent was heavy, the sharpness of the sword had undoubtedly dulled.

These weren't the kind of people whose swords would falter from minor injuries. Then why did their resolve waver?

The two swords clashed repeatedly, ignoring Baek Cheon entirely. Their swords met in a wretched spot, neither warm nor cold, reflecting their stubborn similarity.

Baek Cheon felt like his insides were burning.

These two weren't refusing to stop, they couldn't stop. Knowing this path was wrong, they still had no other option once they'd taken the first step.

Like people with flames chasing at their backs, they raced toward a steep cliff.

Even though they knew it would only lead to mutual harm.

This was unbearable for Baek Cheon.

Kwaang!

The clashing swords recoiled with a resounding echo. Just as they were about to collide again, Baek Cheon thrust his hand between them.

The sight of Baek Cheon's parched, dried-out hand stopped the two swordsmen in their tracks.

"Ugh…!"

Both Cheong Myeong and Jin Songwon twisted their swords simultaneously. Retrieving a sword mid-thrust is far harder than striking, and the sudden reversal caused both to spit blood.

Jin Songwon raised his head abruptly, shouting in fury.

"What are you doing, you insane fool?!"

Baek Cheon's hand and wrist were now marked with deep gashes, blood streaming freely. The wounds were so deep they nearly reached the bone.

Had either swordsman faltered for even a moment, Baek Cheon's hand would have been severed entirely.

"Are you completely mad?"

Jin Songwon trembled with rage, his emotions barely under control. But Baek Cheon was no less indignant.

"You should've just struck me down!"

"…What?"

"A man who lets his disciples die under the swords of the righteous sects, yet takes his anger out on unrelated strangers—can't even cut off one hand of someone he's met a few days ago?"

"….."

"Stop acting like a child, Sect Leader!"

Baek Cheon grabbed Jin Songwon by the collar. His trembling hands lacked strength, but he gripped on nonetheless.

Feeling the desperate sincerity in that clumsy hold, Jin Songwon froze for a moment.

"It's not over yet!"

Baek Cheon cried out.

"Nothing's over yet! Nothing at all!"

He clenched his fist tighter around Jin Songwon's collar, then thrust him toward the battlefield as if to force him to look.

"Do you see it?"

The scene of the battlefield came into sharp focus for Jin Songwon.

"Do you see your disciples dying over there?"

A hellish pandemonium unfolded as the fighters struggled to kill their opponents. Jin Songwon's disciples were not spared from the horrors of this brutal scene.

'Everyone…'

The stark reality that could no longer be ignored was laid bare before him.

"Do they look dead to you already? Do they seem like mere living corpses? Then what is that blood they're shedding? Is it all fake?"

"Deputy Sect Leader."

"If you truly feel guilty, isn't there something else you should be doing? Are you going to let the rest of your disciples die in disgrace? What crime have those who followed you committed to deserve that?"

Jin Songwon slowly turned his gaze toward Baek Cheon, staring at him intently before finally letting out a soft, dry laugh.

"You have quite the way with words."

Thud!

Jin Songwon brushed off Baek Cheon's hand as if it was nothing.

"And yet, all you're doing is standing here squabbling with me while your comrades are dying."

"….."

"How is that any different from giving up? All you're doing is easing your conscience by acting like this. How is that different from my surrender?"

"It's different."

"And how so?"

"Because I haven't given up, I just believe."

Baek Cheon stubbornly extended his hand, pointing back toward the battlefield.

"Look carefully with your own two eyes. See for yourself if I've truly given up."

In the midst of that hellscape, two distinct areas caught the eye—Tang Gunak, enduring agonizing pain, and three young martial artists of the righteous sect locked in a desperate fight.

Nothing seemed to have changed from when it all began—nothing at all.

No matter how much they struggled or how fervently they spoke, they had yet to fully overcome the Evil Sects. It was just like Diancang Sect.

Just as Jin Songwon was about to fall silent again—

"….I?"

His eyes widened slightly as something impossible began to unfold before him. 

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Kaaang!

A flying dagger shot through the air like lightning, hurtling toward Thousand Faced Manipulator. It seemed to pierce his body—no, it merely passed through his afterimage, vanishing like smoke before reappearing. 

Thousand Faced Manipulator smirked faintly.

"In the end, if I'm not struck, it doesn't matter."

"….."

"Your judgment is clouded, Tang Gunak. Choosing me as your target was foolish."

Tang Gunak winced at his inability to refute those words.

Though he could keep Thousand Faced Manipulator from fleeing, landing a decisive blow was another matter. With his evasive maneuvers, Thousand Faced Manipulator was a difficult opponent even for Tang Gunak at his peak—let alone now, with his injuries.

And worse—

Paaaang!

Tang Gunak twisted his body violently.

Kwaaang!

A chilling blade energy sliced through the spot he had just vacated. Had he failed to dodge, his body would have been split in two before he could even consider blocking.

"Huff… huff…"

His breathing was ragged. Facing Thousand Faced Manipulator alone was overwhelming, but Jeok Ho was also here.

"For someone who bragged about handling this alone, you seem quite serious about teaming up."

"….I don't have time to waste anymore."

Jeok Ho responded flatly, his voice tinged with irritation.

But one thing was clear—neither of them intended to waste further effort on Tang Gunak.

The only reason they hadn't yet finished him off was one thing—

Chsss…

Acid dripped from Tang Gunak's dagger, corroding the ground below.

"Indeed, the Tang Family is persistent."

Thousand Faced Manipulator clicked his tongue in annoyance.

If the acid coating the dagger was all there was to worry about, they might have risked some injury to take him down.

But they couldn't be sure what else might be hidden in his sleeves. That uncertainty held them back, making it difficult to get close.

Ironically, the severe injuries Tang Gunak had sustained were now keeping him alive. No one wanted to risk a full-force battle with someone who was already on the brink of death. 

If things continued at this slow pace, Tang Gunak would steadily march toward his death.

However, Thousand Faced Manipulator and Jeok Ho's intentions clashed once again.

"Wouldn't it be better to end this already?"

Jeok Ho's words brought a flicker of irritation to Thousand Faced Manipulator's face.

"If you want it so badly, why don't you do it yourself?"

Thousand Faced Manipulator retorted curtly, causing Jeok Ho to hesitate briefly.

"What's wrong? Worried you might get hurt?"

"I'm not afraid of something like that."

"Ah, then are you worried about what might come next?"

Jeok Ho fell silent. Thousand Faced Manipulator chuckled dryly.

Jeok Ho didn't trust Thousand Faced Manipulator, Dam Yeohae. And so, he had no choice but to worry—about the moment his injured back was exposed to Thousand Faced Manipulator, whether during this fight or after the war was over.

Jeok Ho's caution stemmed from a straightforward loyalty to Jang Ilso. If Jeok Ho fell, Jang Ilso would be in greater danger—a rare display of unwavering devotion in the world of the Evil Sects.

"What did Ryeonju promise you? I might be able to offer something better."

At Thousand Faced Manipulator's suggestion, Jeok Ho gave a rare laugh—a mocking one, of course.

"You don't have the capacity."

"And Ryeonju does?"

Jeok Ho's silence was the strongest affirmation. A flash of killing intent flickered in Thousand Faced Manipulator's eyes. A sword he couldn't possess was one he must destroy.

But… now wasn't the time.

"Fine. At this rate, we'll be here till dawn. If you take the lead, I'll finish it."

"…Understood."

Jeok Ho nodded. Though reluctant to step in front of Thousand Faced Manipulator, he couldn't afford to drag things out any longer.

His blade moved slowly. Tang Gunak watched the scene unfold without so much as blinking.

Was he out of breath? He couldn't tell. His entire body felt distant, his senses hazy, as if they didn't belong to him. He could barely sense the enemy before him.

But one thing was clear—the weight of the flying daggers in his hand.

It was heavy.

These light daggers felt as heavy as a thousand pounds to him now.

Was it arrogance that led him here? No, probably not. But his inadequacy was undeniable.

Eight daggers remained in his grasp. Including the four he had been too exhausted to retrieve, there were twelve in total—the Twelve Flying Daggers.

However.

'It's not enough.'

Twelve daggers weren't sufficient to disrupt their movements. Just one more dagger. He was short by just one.

It wasn't an easy task. Adding one more dagger was far harder than controlling all twelve combined.

Even so—

'I should have done it.'

Regret always came too late.

Tang Gunak tightened his grip on the daggers. If he couldn't stop his larger regrets, he could at least prevent smaller ones. He wouldn't die quietly, that much he could ensure.

'What's left… I will just leave it to the others.'

At that moment, Jeok Ho charged like a bolt of lightning.

His movement was straightforward, almost linear. Simple yet deadly—because Thousand Faced Manipulator lurked behind him. That simple slash was, therefore, more lethal than any other.

Swish!

Tang Gunak released two daggers. They swirled in the air, intercepting Jeok Ho's incoming blade. Simultaneously, three more daggers closed in on Jeok Ho's body, restraining his movements.

The remaining three daggers anticipated Thousand Faced Manipulator, who had kicked off the ground from behind Jeok Ho, and intercepted him.

But—

Clang!

A cloud-like burst of energy knocked all three daggers aside.

Tang Gunak closed his eyes.

'Just one more.'

If only there had been thirteen instead of twelve… he could have revived the forgotten legend with his own hands.

"It's been a long fight, Poison King. Time to die."

The voice came from close by. Tang Gunak stood tall and resolute.

Kwaang!

A sudden, deafening explosion echoed.

Tang Gunak didn't move. Having never experienced death, he couldn't recognize its sensation. Was this truly death? Or was it something else entirely?

Then, a voice—both unfamiliar and familiar—called out.

"Glad I made it in time."

Tang Gunak opened his eyes. A figure stood before him, their back turned. Tang Gunak's mouth fell open slightly.

"…You."

The figure turned their head slightly. Their usual stern expression, weighed down by something heavy, was unmistakable.

"Sect Leader Jongli?"

"I'm sorry for putting you through so much trouble. My disciples seem to require a lot of care." 

Jongli Gok, the leader of Zhongnan Sect, spoke calmly.

"Since I'm late, I'll make sure this is resolved properly. Don't be too harsh on me. Patriarch."

Tang Gunak found himself nodding unconsciously.